Want to get your point across? Why not say it with light? This new kit lets you create your own custom LED light board using any pattern you want. The whole thing reminds me of a modern-day Lite-Brite.

The latest Open Source creation from Evil Mad Science Labs, “Peggy” gives you the parts you need to make a pixelated grid of LEDs in any design your little heart desires. 

Peggy is named for her 25 x 25 pegboard which can hold up to 625 LEDs in place for your custom signs. It’s able to drive just about any LED you’d like, and can be run off of 3 ‘D’-cell batteries or on an optional AC adapter. The kit includes the pre-populated circuit board, battery pack and a photosensor which lets you automatically turn off the display in daylight. And yes, the whole thing is driven by a fully-programmable micro-controller, so you can create animations, blinking and flashing displays if you know what you’re doing. 

Keep in mind that you’ll need to buy your own LEDs, and will need some basic soldering skill and a soldering iron to create your own signs. The kit is available from the EMSL Shop for $80 USD. You can also pick up a batch of LEDs while you’re there. (For those more adventurous, there’s a bare-bones version of the board without the electronics already installed for $50). 

quotationweb 

I’ve been on the hunt for some decent illumination for my work area, but haven’t really been impressed with the desk lamps I’ve come across in my travels. That is, until now. This beautiful lighting fixture combines good looks, modern technology and is energy efficient.

Alliance Optotek’s Aqualia lamp uses a dozen bright LEDs to provide ample lighting for any work area. It’s all housed inside of a sexy 18-inch tall aluminum fixture which can be adjusted to an angle of your choosing, and automatically dims down to night-light brightness when closed.

The LEDs output no UV or IR radiation, and are flicker free so they’re easy on your delicate eyeballs. I also like how the fixture offers full 0% to 100% dimming, so you can set the brightness to your preference. Plus, the LEDs are rated at 50,000+ hours of continuous use, so you’ll get plenty of use out of the fixture before it burns out. As a bonus, power consumption is a mere 16-watts at maximum brightness.

While I haven’t been able to find pricing or availability information for the Aqualia, online LED specialists TheLEDLight carry similar fixtures by the same company (for about $200 each), so you might be able to get one special ordered through them.

Were those lightsaber laser pointers just too tiny to satisfy your man-sized Star Wars hunger? Then wrap your hands around one of these full-sized lightsaber replicas which you can actually customize to your own liking.

The Force FX Lightsaber Contstruction Kit gives you everything you need to create your own blade. These Master Replicas Lightsabers come with parts to make hundreds of different saber designs. 

The blade color can be switched between red, green or blue thanks to its tri-colored LEDs. Like other Force FX Lightsabers, it features authentic movie sound effects for power up/down, idle, swing and impact movements. The sounds even change depending on which blade color you choose.

So if you can’t decide whether you’re Jedi, Sith or something else altogether, the $99.99 kit is available in very limited quantities over on Amazon.

[via Coolest Gadgets]

Ahhhhh, the great outdoors. Just you and the sunshine, nature, fresh air, and… all your electronic gear? Well, it is truly possible to have it all with this solar powered digital survival kit. It comes with a 3800mAh rechargeable solar battery to keep your phone (or other preferred device) running and 12 different adapters (check for yours first in the photo before ordering!). Also included are a compass, a watch and, if all that isn’t enough, an LED flashlight for nighttime illumination.

All this thing needs now is a pop up dutch oven and a recorded lesson in how to discern the difference between brown bear vs. black bear attacks, and I am so buying this thing.

Available for US $33.26 at DealExtreme.

 quotationweb

With all of the casemods I’ve seen for the Nintendo Wii, I’m surprised that I haven’t come across any Mario-themed designs in my travels. I guess it was only a matter of time before everyone’s favorite little plumber got his due.

The hand-painted Super Mario themed Wii features a scene from the classic platformer, including a 3-dimensional Mario busting out of the side of the console, courtesy of ample quantities of modeling clay and Bondo.

The grass-covered base conceals an additional USB port, and an LED illuminated mushroom that changes colors to indicate system status. There’s even a Wii-mote charger built into the green drain pipe on the side of the console.

Mario fan BeerBellyJoe has posted a tutorial over on Instructables, showing you how to embellish your own Wii with the same Super Mario theme and features. But if you don’t want to go through the trouble of building your own, keep your eye on eBay, since Joe says he’ll probably be putting this one up for auction in the next week to raise some cash.

[UPDATE 3/17/2008: Looks like Joe followed through with his threat, and has posted his Wii on eBay. With enough money, and a bit of luck it could be yours.]

 quotationweb

Sure, we’ve all seen devices that promise to help you relax, whether with light, sound, or even aromatherapy. This new gadget out of Korea takes the kitchen sink approach to chilling out, combining all of the aforementioned techniques to get you to unwind.

The LTK-2000 Therapy Station starts out with 24 relaxing sounds in categories ranging from “concentration” to “therapy for depression” to get your mind off the din of your everyday life. Once your ears are soothed, a ring of bright blue LEDs pops out of the device to provide your eyes with a up to 5,000 lux of light therapy.

Once your eyes and ears are relaxed, your nose won’t feel left out, thanks to an array of herbal aroma cartridges which can pop into the top of the unit. If that’s not enough, the system also has a built in anion generator, which is supposed to help purify the air you’re breathing.

If this thing can’t help you to relax, you’re probably beyond hope. Now all you’ve got to do is figure out how to get one imported from Korea, and you’re all set. If you’re up for the challenge, you can find them for sale at Enfren for 378,000 KRW (that’s about $395 USD). There’s also a video of the device in action over on AVING.

 quotationweb